'Step up' in Afghan mission, PM told

Prime Minister Stephen Harper must take personal responsibility for the success or failure of Canada's Afghan mission by pressing NATO allies for an extra 1,000 troops for Kandahar while better explaining the mission to Canadians, a respected study group says.

OTTAWA–Prime Minister Stephen Harper must take personal responsibility for the success or failure of Canada's Afghan mission by pressing NATO allies for an extra 1,000 troops for Kandahar while better explaining the mission to Canadians, a respected study group says.

And if Canadian soldiers don't get NATO reinforcements, along with new transport helicopters and unmanned surveillance planes to track insurgents, Canada should withdraw from its security mission in Kandahar in February 2009, the independent panel said yesterday.

The five-member panel, led by former Liberal minister John Manley, painted a "brutally frank" picture of the difficulties NATO armies face bringing security to the country, including a worsening insurgency, ineffective aid strategy, poor co-ordination among defence, foreign affairs and development officials, and an imbalance between military and civilian efforts.

"What we're saying is that the mission is in jeopardy. There simply are not enough troops to ensure that the job can be properly done in Kandahar province," Manley told a news conference.

"But there is a significant difference between saying, `We're gone in February 2009,' and saying, `We're staying provided you find us a partner.'"

Canada's contributions of about 2,500 troops and at least $100 million a year in aid give Harper the diplomatic muscle to press international partners for extra forces and get diplomatic and development efforts on track, the panel says.

"To get the result that we believe is necessary, the Prime Minister must step up and make this mission a top priority," Manley said.

"Even more important, he must personally lead our diplomatic initiative, making our voice heard to a degree commensurate with our contributions."

Harper came away empty-handed at the last meeting of NATO leaders in Riga, Latvia, in 2006. But the panel says NATO must be prepared to act on Canada's demands for more troops when leaders meet again in Bucharest, Romania, April 2 to 4.

"Either they mean it, that this is the most important mission, or they don't. And if they don't, well then we need to look at the well-being of our young people," Manley said. Seventy-seven Canadian troops, and one diplomat, Glyn Berry, have died in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002.

All eyes are now set on a future vote that the government has promised in the House of Commons that will let the majority of MPs decide whether troops stay in Kandahar or leave next year. Manley's report suggests that vote be postponed until after the critical NATO meeting to give Harper that opportunity to secure additional support for Canadian soldiers.

The Commons returns on Monday after a six-week winter break.

Harper said yesterday his cabinet would take a few days to study the report before responding in detail.

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion told reporters in Kitchener he had not yet read the report. However, he repeated his position that Canadian soldiers should leave Kandahar next year, and should inform NATO immediately.

"It's time for Canada to do something else to help the people of Afghanistan. This is our position," Dion said.

The panel said that a lack of troops has made life more dangerous for troops in southern Afghanistan, noting that Canada has suffered the highest casualty rate per capita of any of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) nations.

"We believe that Canadian casualties are greater than would otherwise be the case if additional troops were there," Manley said.

The panel, which received more than 200 submissions, also pointed to serious communications problems it says have left Canadians in the dark about the rationale for Ottawa's involvement in Kandahar.

"It's a fact that the information Canadians are getting today is not well balanced," said panel member Paul Tellier, a former clerk of the Privy Council.

Harper struck the panel last October to advise parliamentarians on the future of the Afghan mission. His decision to name Manley – a known advocate of the mission – as chair was controversial.

Critics said the commission was biased in favour of extending the mission, and they said the report backs up their fears, even though it was tough on the Tory government.

NDP Leader Jack Layton yesterday repeated his demand that Canadian troops leave Afghanistan, and said NATO should pull out, too.

"What we need is the United Nations to develop a comprehensive peace process for this regional conflict," said Layton.

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